THE STARS ALIGN TOUR: The New York Liberty are Chasing Greatness

To gain entry, you must present your ID to the doorman. Once inside, proceed to the elevator and turn left. Down the hallway, you will find a white door where a camera crew is bustling about. The walls are adorned with portraits of former Brooklyn Nets players, but right now, all eyes are on someone else. “EVERYBODY ON MUTE!” The boisterous Jonquel Jones, a shining star for the New York Liberty, belts out the lyrics to Beyoncé’s “Energy,” a powerful track from her Renaissance album. It’s August, and we’re gathered in a transformed workroom-turned-glam room at the Nets practice facility. Jones, along with Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, and Courtney Vandersloot—the Liberty’s formidable starting five—have spent the past hour getting ready for their first-ever SLAM cover shoot as a newly united team. The room is buzzing with energy as videographers and producers come in and out, ensuring our cover stars are prepared. They’re almost there. But before we begin, we have Beyoncé lyrics to sing. JJ, seated next to Sab and near Betnijah, signals for everyone to go silent—an “if you know, you know” trend tied to Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. The music resumes. “Look around, it’s me and my crew. Big energy…” One of the hair stylists finishes curling Breanna Stewart’s luscious brunette locks while Courtney Vandersloot, sitting nearby, gets eyelash extensions. She smiles as she covers one eye, noticing the difference. Sab is the first one ready for the photoshoot, and we all follow the All-Star guard across the hall to the practice court, now transformed into a set with a pristine white backdrop and an array of studio lights. At the side, a table holds a collection of vintage treasures—old-school digital cameras, a flip camera, and a polaroid camera—which Sab immediately gravitates towards once her posing duties are complete. This is when we discover how much of a “girl’s girl” she is, someone who values and respects her female friendships. Sab effortlessly transitions from hyping up her teammates to posing Courtney Vandersloot, capturing her own photo-op moment with a glass of champagne brought onto the set. This is the same Sabrina who we once hailed as the “Next Queen of New York” on the cover of SLAM 231. But who says a queen must rule alone? Sab entered the WNBA as the NCAA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, the top overall pick in 2020, and undeniably one of the League’s most beloved young players. Then the team signed Betnijah Laney ahead of the 2021 season, and since then, anticipation has been building in Brooklyn. Now, with Sab, Laney, JJ, Stewie, and Sloot leading the way, the New York Liberty sit atop the Eastern Conference with a record-breaking 32-8—the best regular-season performance in franchise history. While media outlets portray this Liberty squad as a “superteam,” the WNBA has seen superteams throughout its history. The Houston Comets claimed the first four championships between ’97-2000, followed by the L.A. Sparks winning consecutive titles in ’01 and ’02. In the following year, the Detroit Shock secured their first championship and added another in ’06. From 2011-2017, the Minnesota Lynx won an impressive four titles in seven years. Labelling this Liberty team as a superteam suggests they are a well-oiled machine destined for domination, but in reality, they are a group of women who have joined forces with the shared goal of being the very best. “I think we’re just superhumans,” Sab remarks about the superteam title. “We all have unique stories to tell and we’re at different stages in our careers, but when we come together, that’s the beauty of being part of a team.” The biggest show in Brooklyn. SLAM 246 featuring the New York Liberty is available now. The story of this team’s alliance didn’t begin with Stewie—JJ was technically the first to join the Liberty when she was traded in January. However, it was Stewie’s announcement during free agency that shook the world. The Liberty already had a new superstar in JJ, but when Stewart began posting cryptic tweets filled with emojis, the excitement reached new heights. Another star pairing up with JJ?! “They cookin’,” exclaimed Kevin Durant on his podcast, The ETCs. “They’re bringing the best talent to New York.” On February 1, Stewie made a move akin to the surprise drop of Beyoncé’s Lemonade. She posted a simple Statue of Liberty emoji and a video of herself donning a teal-colored warm-up shirt. Just one day later, Courtney Vandersloot stunned the WNBA community by announcing her own signing with the Liberty on Twitter. To understand the magnitude of this trio—Stewie, JJ, and Sloot—we’re talking about three WNBA titles, 14 All-Star appearances, seven First Team All-WNBA selections, three All-Defensive First Team selections, two Finals MVPs for Stewie, a regular season MVP, and Rookie of the Year award for Stewie, Jonquel’s Sixth Woman of the Year recognition, and Courtney Vandersloot’s second-place ranking in all-time assists. They are undoubtedly future Hall of Famers. However, it’s remarkable to think that there was a time when Stewie almost didn’t don the Liberty jersey. “I was undecided for quite a while,” Stewie reveals. “It was between Seattle and New York. The three of us—Sloot, JJ, and I—were in constant communication during free agency. And of course, Sab and B played a significant role in making sure we wanted to come here to win.” Now settled in Brooklyn, Stewart continues to cement her status as one of the most versatile players to ever grace the game. On her very first day in Barclays Center, she made her mark by setting a franchise record of 45 points against the Indiana Fever. Currently averaging a career-high 23.3 points per game (second in the league), she is once again part of the MVP conversation. On set, Stewie exudes poise and a cool, collected confidence. She proudly showcases her own signature sneaker, the Stewie 2s, in the photos. For the next ten minutes, the 6’4″ star actively participates in the creative process, not just as the main subject but also taking the camcorder in her hands and asking if we have a pair of sunglasses she can wear. The studio lights cause too much glare on the silver shades, but with just a few minutes left to capture the perfect shot, Stewie shines brightest. At one point, she locks eyes with the camera, emitting an intense gaze with her piercing blue eyes. The camera flashes as our photographer snaps away. Pop! Stewie tilts her chin, holding her gaze, captivated in her own brilliance. Pop! Throughout her seven years in the WNBA, Stewie has achieved it all: championships, MVPs, and being the face of the Storm alongside the legendary Sue Bird. So what drives her to maintain such an exceptional level of play? “For me, it’s all about perspective,” the former UConn Husky explains when asked about her motivation. “Of course, I love winning and competitive spirit, but I also understand that these moments are fleeting, and I’ve gained that perspective through injuries. Some of us have experienced injuries that forced us to sit out entire seasons and such. So, I never take anything for granted. Additionally, I have Ruby at home looking up to me, observing my every move. It’s essential for me to continue to contribute to improving this team and the league not only for her if she decides to play but also for the coming generations.” Stewart and JJ entered the WNBA together in 2016 as the No. 1 and No. 6 picks respectively. They have also played alongside each other on UMMC Ekaterinburg. For JJ, her transition to New York came after she requested a trade before the start of the 2023 season. “At the time, I wasn’t sure who would be joining me,” Jones confides…

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Rachel Adams

Rachel Adams is your WNBA insider, delivering comprehensive coverage of women’s basketball. With a commitment to highlighting the talent and achievements of WNBA players, she provides game analysis, player profiles, and inspiring stories from the league.